Rays look ahead to 2009 after Series loss

PHILADELPHIA -- A few minutes after Brad Lidge struck out Eric Hinske Wednesday night to end the 2008 World Series, Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon started to set the tone for 2009 and beyond.

Maddon gathered his players inside the visitors' clubhouse at Citizens Bank Park. He thanked them for their efforts, told them he felt proud of them, but most important of all, he repeated once again that the Rays will be even better in the future.

From one corner of the locker room to another, even as relief pitcher J.P. Howell sat at his locker, his face cupped in his hands, the young Rays echoed what Maddon had said.

"This is something that's not just a one-year wonder," starting pitcher Scott Kazmir said. "We're going to go out there and we're going to compete for years to come because we know what we have. None of us are going anywhere."

Are the Rays a copy of the 1991 Atlanta Braves, who went from worst-to-first, then lost the World Series, then won another 13 consecutive division titles? Or are the Rays more similar to the 2007 Colorado Rockies, who reached the Fall Classic but regressed badly in 2008, finishing 74-88? Or somewhere in between?

It's impossible to know, but the Rays feel optimistic.

"It's just the beginning," Maddon said. "We go to spring training next year with all this momentum built up from this season. . . . I think we validated and created the 'Ray Way' of playing baseball. I'm very proud of that, and we have to make it better."

The greatest strength of the 1991 Braves team was a young pitching rotation that included 24-year-olds Tom Glavine and John Smoltz.

No one expects any of the 2008 Rays' starting pitchers to have careers on par with Glavine or Smoltz, but Tampa Bay's rotation of Kazmir, James Shields, Matt Garza, Andy Sonnanstine and Edwin Jackson was even younger than Atlanta's, with an average age of 24.6 years old. They ranked as the ninth-youngest rotation ever to reach the postseason.

Next year, the group almost certainly will subtract Jackson or Sonnanstine and add 23-year-old David Price, the 2007 June draft's top overall pick who dominated opposing batters during the playoffs.

All of the Rays' starting position players -- and that excludes designated hitters -- are 30 or younger, and guys such as center fielder B.J. Upton (24), third baseman Evan Longoria (22) and catcher Dioner Navarro (24) should continue to improve.

"We believe in ourselves," 27-year-old left fielder Carl Crawford said. "We're not thinking that the other team is just supposed to beat us because of the name on their jersey. I think we realize that we're now that team."

If one potential weak spot exists, it's the bullpen, which showed some cracks during the postseason. At 39, closer Troy Percival missed so much time due to injury that he can't be counted on to make a big contribution next year.

Of course, Rays officials also realize that they play in the American League East, and that the free-spending Boston Red Sox and the even-freer-spending New York Yankees, can shore up weak spots through free agency. Plus, the Red Sox and Yankees could be better after suffering injuries to key players in 2008.

But, still, optimism reigned in Tampa Bay's clubhouse after their World Series defeat.

"Now we don't celebrate anything less than a World Series win," Kazmir said.